by Dumoktheartist

Created on: October 21, 2008

This past month I have been doing alot of thinking about Samhain and what it means to me. You see, Halloween had always been one of my favorite holidays while I was growing up, it wasn't until later in life when I converted to paganism that I got a real appreciation about the Holiday. When I had finished doing some research about the Origins about Halloween and Samhain (Pronounced Sow Heen or Sah Wen) that I learned that it meant to me spiritually. So finally I decided to set these lessons down during a response to a fundamentalists rant about the "Evils of Halloween" which contained a series of gross exagerations and out right lies. At that point I decided to point out the Virtues of Samhain and what it can teach us AND our children about life, the virtues and how to prepare for hard times. I am not really expecting to change anyone's mind, this is mainly to those of us who prefer not to let the fear mongers govern our lives any longer.

1) the plenty of Summer would soon give way to the lack of winter. With the message being to be prepared for the hard times by using the times of plenty to store up for yourselves and your family and Kin folk.

2) In spite of there being times of darkness (winter) the light will eventually come (summer) but it is wise not to curse the darkness but to understand the darkness is a needed part of our lives. it is in times of darkness that we learn that our families have survived these times before and you will in the future if you take the lessons they passed on to us.

3)Remember the people who came before you, honor them for the sacrifices they made to help future generations to have a better life in the world. These same ancestors are still with us in Spirit to give us guidance, wisdom and love.

4) Samhain is the time to teach our young people the virtues of Hospitality, compassion and generosity. By sharing our food (Candy) with them, we show them how to give to others with largess, and to sweeten the lives of others.

5) This is a time to change things in your life that perhaps you feel need to be changed. By adopting the costume of someone you admire and respect, you take their virtues upon themselves and learn from their trials and tribulations. Other times it is to remind ourselves of the failures of others and their stupidity so that we do not make the same mistakes.

Be blessed and may Samhain be a marker for the changes you need to make in your life!

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